Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/26912 
Year of Publication: 
2007
Series/Report no.: 
Preprints of the Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods No. 2007,1
Publisher: 
Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods, Bonn
Abstract: 
From the angle of competition policy, Voice over IP looks like a panacea. It not only brings better service, but it also increases competitive pressure on former telecommunications monopolists. This paper points to the largely overlooked downside. In a pure world of Internet telephony, there would be no charge for individual calls, nor for telephony, as distinct from other services running over the uniform network. Specifically, establishing property rights for either of these would be costly, whereas these property rights were automatic and free of charge in switched telephony. Giving voice over IP providers classic telephone numbers would enhance systems competition with switched telephony. But this would make it more difficult for clients to swap providers. The anti-competitive caller pays principle would extend to IP telephony.
Subjects: 
property right
non-linear pricing
pure bundling
club good
cross-subsidisation packet switched telephony
JEL: 
D23
D43
H41
K21
K23
L13
L15
L43
L86
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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